Two Days in Brussels - Access Brussels

The portico of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts — Ask what the ticket covers — this is the easiest place in Brussels to buy the wrong one. Photograph by Michel wal, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

The second day is for the things you have to go inside — and Brussels charges for fewer of them than most capitals.

Day one

The one-day plan — the flea market, the upper city, the Grand-Place, and an hour of Art Nouveau.

The Horta-designed hall of the Comics Art Museum — The Comics Art Museum is in a Horta warehouse, and the building is half the reason. Photograph by Pierre Goiffon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Day two, morning — one collection

Pick by what you actually like:

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts — Bruegel and the Old Masters downstairs, Magritte on a separate ticket. Ask what your ticket covers before paying.
The Comics Art Museum — in a Horta warehouse, and the building is half the reason.
The Horta Museum — if you booked. Timed entry, limited numbers, no photography.

⚠️ All three close on Monday.

The arch at the Parc du Cinquantenaire — The Cinquantenaire park and arch are free and open at all hours. Photograph by Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Day two, afternoon — east

The Cinquantenaire park and arch, free, and the European Quarter next door — where the House of European History is free, serious, and open when the paid museums are not.

The European Parliament building in Brussels — The European Quarter’s visitor sites are free — bring photo ID. Photograph by EmDee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Day two, evening

Beer. Not a themed bar but an ordinary café — the list is long, the glasses are specific to the beer, and nobody will rush you.

How the closures fall

Put the paid museum on a day that is not Monday. Put the European Quarter on the Monday. The flea market fits any morning.

Other lengths of trip

One Day in BrusselsThe centre, and one street off it Three Days in BrusselsAdds the thing you book Five Days in BrusselsAdds a day out

Journey times and opening patterns as published for 2026 and checked on 5 September 2026. Timetables, fares and closing days change without much warning — confirm with the operator or the institution before you travel. All the plans are in Itineraries & Day Plans.